Blacksburg, Virginia

Blacksburg is one of the most beautiful spots in Virginia, which is saying something because the states has some stunning landscape. It’s nestled between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains, which means you’re surrounded with camping, hiking and leisurely strolling options. The Appalachian Trail is just 40 miles away but there’s other less famous but just as fabulous outdoor adventures available including Cascades National Rec Trail with a 66-foot waterfall, Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve, also with a series of waterfalls, New River for those craving water play, and most convenient, Huckleberry Trail, the main greenway throughout Blacksburg, so you don’t even have to leave town to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful countryside.

Oh, and the aforementioned Carol Lee Donuts, which was recently named one of the Top 100 Donut Shops of 2023.

A lot of the social energy of Blacksburg comes from the student population. In the summer, when the kiddos are back home, some locals complain the town is dead. A counterpoint to this is the view from those who are pretty damn thrilled when the Hokies hit the road and leave the restaurants/bars and trails to the grownups. We’ll leave that topic aside for a minute and just note that Virginia Tech is a big part of the population for nine months of the year and when they empty out things get very quiet.

As with many college towns, a lot of the area events and activities happen on campus. One of the great things about being a local is that you can attend all the sports, concerts and performing arts events that VTech hosts, many which are held at the renowned Moss Arts Center. Locals can also visit the Hahn Horticulture Garden, a beautiful botanical garden on campus, ideal for those in the mood for nature but not game for hitting the trails. You also get the amazing hiking and outdoor adventures described above in the Appalachian Mountains, or Cascades National Trail, or the many many other spots in the surrounding mountains.

Downtown Blacksburg has some fun restaurants including, Cellar, a casual Greek spot with tons of local and national microbrews, Benny Marzano’s, a New York-style pizza spot, and The Black Hen & Bar Blue, a farm-to-table restaurant that features Southern-inspired dishes. Perhaps most notable for off-campus entertainment is Lyric Theatre, a historic downtown venue that hosts live music, theater, and film screenings and serves as a cultural hub for the city.